News and Views
Visit this page for news, information, ideas, celebrations of success and opportunities to support our Christian community.
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School Production - The Pilgrim’s Progress
Sun 22 Jan 2023We are very excited about this Upper School production. The script is based on a well known allegorical story by John Bunyan who was imprisoned for his Christian Faith in the 18th century. This abridged version has been written as a musical play by a past pupil and we are very pleased to be performing the first staging of it. You are welcome to invite family and friends and perhaps even your Church’s youth groups to come and see it.
Tickets for the production of The Pilgrim's Progress are now available. Tickets can be requested by emailing bookings@cfschool.org.uk to ask for the number of seats you would like on each evening. You can then pay on the night (adults £3, concessions* £2) or you can pay in the office (please avoid the beginning and end of the day). Please only ask for the correct number of tickets that you need. Please click HERE for the flyer, which we encourage you to distribute through social media.* suitable for secondary aged children
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Advance notice about Swimming Gala
Mon 16 Jan 2023We are very pleased that Mrs Fairclough has been able to be more involved this year with our weekly swimming provision for Lower and Middle School. However, we are not planning a swimming gala this year, although we hope to return to this popular event in the future.
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Uniform and hair
Mon 16 Jan 2023We have sent a separate email to upper school parents and pupils which you can view HERE. For all pupils, please ensure that uniform is in good order and items are replaced or mended if they are lost, break or wear out. We will keep you informed about any proposals to change or enhance the uniform in due course.
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Attendance and holiday requests
Mon 16 Jan 2023We will shortly be sending your child’s attendance information for last term in a new format that gives more detail about your child’s attendance and lateness and will allow you to track patterns. Where there is persistent lateness or absence, we will work with you to see if we can help resolve any underlying difficulties.
As a school, we are increasingly clear that term time holidays should only be requested in rare and exceptional circumstances’. It is not always easy to have a consistent view about what counts as an exceptional circumstance but as a guide, celebrating a significant birthday with the wider family is not considered an exceptional circumstance, but seeing grandparents who normally live abroad and are only available on specific dates might be. To help with holiday costs, families might like to consider the very first week of the summer holidays when prices are lower because most other schools are still in session. If you do make a request for holiday absence, please put your request in before you book flights etc, and at least two weeks before the event. Sometimes an authorised absence will not be granted. In Year 11 any request for extended time off will not generally be considered. Occasionally if an absence does not fall under the exceptional category, a family may consider to have an unauthorised absence, but please always consult school by talking to Mrs K Sharples about this first - ks@cfschool.org.uk
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Hygiene and health
Mon 16 Jan 2023The Department for Education has reissued guidance to schools about the high rates of viruses including Covid and Step A at the moment. We want to maintain high standards of hygiene in school to minimise the spread of both respiratory and other viruses by encouraging pupils to use tissues to blow their nose and ensuring they clean their hands before eating. We are also maintaining some ventilation. Please keep your children off if they have or are starting a streaming cold and certainly if they have a temperature. Please email office@cfschool.org.uk to report an absence by 9.30am each day of absence or phone school on 0151 709 1642 between 8.30-9.30am when you can speak to someone or leave a message.
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Upper school uniform and hair
Sun 15 Jan 2023Boys' hair and pupil uniform
As you are aware, we are looking at our school uniform policy this year with a view to some changes to the uniform itself and a review of other aspects of the dress code policy. We hope to introduce further changes from September 2023.
I would specifically like to mention the length and styling of boys’ hair. I met with some boys from the School Council last term to hear their thoughts and views. I also used the opportunity to explain that what may seem like a straight forward request involves multiple considerations. These include the need to be sensitive to the views of those within our community who see hair length and style as being more than just a matter of personal choice. I referred to various biblical passages that inform different Christian perspectives. I was encouraged by the readiness of the boys to acknowledge the importance of respecting people with different views, although they were clearly surprised that hair length was even mentioned in the Bible! I explained that we needed to move forward together as a community and not let hair styles undermine the mutual respect on which our community life is based.
We are mindful that in contemporary culture, hairstyle is a part of how people choose to express themselves as part of their God-given personality and this is something that matters to young people - and therefore to us.
The need to chart a careful and considered course between different sincerely held points of view means that change can seem frustratingly slow to young people. However, as the school leadership continues to consider possible changes, I would like to clarify that until we reach an agreement on new guidelines, we expect boys' hair to comply with our existing dress code (uniform policy). This means that boys’ hair should not be too short (shaved or part shaved) and longer hair should not be in the eyes, tied up, nor longer than collar length.
It is very important for year 11s to set an example for the rest of the school and to abide by school guidelines on uniform and other aspects of appearance at all times. This applies right up to the end of the GCSE exams in June.
Please look up the dress code (uniform policy) and follow it. Sometimes there are specific reasons why someone is allowed to wait a couple of weeks before they have their hair cut. Several boys have been asked to have their hair cut as soon as possible and one or two have already done so. However, if you are personally puzzled about something, whether it is about hair or other aspects of uniform, do speak discreetly to Mrs Johnson.
I trust that this email puts both students and parents in the picture. We would appreciate your prompt cooperation. -
School Production!
Fri 06 Jan 20232023 School Production
The Pilgrim's Progress is on 22nd to 24th February. This is a new Musical by Stephen Sammons, based on the book by John Bunyan. Click HERE to see the flyer, with more information.
Tickets
Adults £3 : Children* £2
To book your seats please email: bookings@cfschool.org.uk
Payment will be on the door, preferred by cash, but card payment will be an option.
* suitable for secondary aged children